Milling machine



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E. T. NORD MILLING MACHINE June 18, l1946.

4 Smets-sheet s Filed Feb. 26, 1.943

Ilmmlllw Fia.

Patented June 18, 1946 MILLING MACHINE Eric T. Nord, Amherst, Ohio, assignor to U. S.

Automatic Corporation,

poration of Ohio Amherst, Ohio, a cor- Application February 26, 1943, Serial No. 477,241

1 The invention relates to metal-cutting tools and particularly to a machine for performing multiple milling operations upon a succession of metal pieces or work fed thereto.

The purposes of the invention are the provision.

of a machine which will dispense with `all but a minimum of manual operations, will rapidly and accurately effect a multiple of milling operations upon la plurality of metal parts successively fed thereto, which operations differ amongst themselves not only in thatthey' produce different re'- sults in the work, but in that they are effected by different methods of approach of the work and the milling tools, the illustrative machine shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification performing three milling operations in two different stages, in the first of which stages the work is` moved against and intosJ cutting tool, and in the other of which stages two 'cutting tools areA moved simultaneously into opposed parts of the work.,

The claims of the instant application are directed to the arrangement of `tools and work-A holder of the improved milling machine. e Claims to the improvedmethods of effecting varied milling operations' Yupon a metal workpiece, just mentioned, are presented in my pending1 application Serial No. 586,592, led Apr. 4, 19 5.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain means illustrating the improved milling machine, such means constituting, however, only4 one of the various forms in which the principle of the inventionmay be embodied.

In said annexed drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved milling machine, the near sideplate of the machine being partially broken away, the several elements of the machine appearing in the respective positions assumed by them immediately preceding the completion of a-ll of the milling operations effected by the machine upon the work;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the improved machine;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the piece or work operated upon by the particular form of improved machine shownl in the accompanying drawings, the view in Figure 3 being that of apiece which has vbeen completely chine; y v Figure 4 is a' section, taken `in the plane indi'- cated by the line 4--4, Figure 3, particularly showingtwo milling operations which-wereveffected upon diametrically opposite sides of the work;

.Figure 5 is a section, taken in the plane indicated by the line l5'--5, Figure 3, particularly illustrating another milling operation which was effected in the rst stageof operations on the work; l 1

Figure 6 is a plan view of the left side of the upper portion of the machine shown in Figure l;

Figure '7 is'a fragmentary longitudinal vertical section, taken'in `the planesindicated by the line 'I--LFigure 6; j

Figure 8 is 'a fragmentary transverse vertical section, taken in the planes indicated by the line 8-8,Figure 7; j f

Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal longitudinalsection, taken in the planes indicated by the lined-9, Figures '7 and 8; A l

Figure l0 isa plan section, taken in the planes indicated by the line lil-IU, Figure l;

Figure 11 isla* fragmentary plan section, taken in the planes indicated by the line ll--I l, Figure l; and

Figure 12 is a, fragmentary longitudinal vertical section, taken in the plane indicated by the instance, is a shell'no'se-piece or screw plug ofannularl formation, Aisgive'n two milling cuts AIl at one end in diametrically opposed areas during the secondV stage of operations and a milling out l24 at the same enclin another 'area during the first stage'of operations. The cuts i l and i2 may serve various purposes, for instance, the cuts ll might accommodate a spanner for placing or removingV the piece IE) and the cut l2 might serve for the accommodation-of a-locking member.

The operations effecting the cuts Il and l2 are performedv while `the piece I i) is positioned in a reciprocable table 5 ofthe improved machine,

milled by the improved mathe accommodationofthe piece I0 in the table 5 during the actual milling operations being shown iii-Figures .1, `7,f 10, and 12. In fact, the positions of j all the elements of the improved machine, as shown in all the views oi the accompanying drawings, are those assumed by the several elements during the milling operations, the actual stage of the milling operations shown being that immediately prior to the completion of the diametrically opposite cuts the cut |2 having previously been completed, but the milling cutter by which it was effected still being retained in cutting position and running idly through the cut I2 which it has completed.

The cut I2 is made by a milling cutter 30 rotated bya transverse horizontal shaft |30 extended transversely across and above a milling area, the work I being fed to the cutter 30 to eifect the operation, and the diametrically opposed cuts ll are made by a pair of millers 20, end mills in the embodiment disclosed, mounted in transversely opposed vertical spindles |20 which are reciprocable toward and from each other and the milling area, the cuts being made by feeding the millers 20 into the work Il).l

Certain primary frame elements of the machine consist in a transverse top plate 2, Figures 1 and 6, disposed intermediate the longitudinal length of the machine and secured to machine side ,plates 21, Figures 1, 6, 8, 9, and 10, and having depending forward and rearward cross walls intermediate the side plates 21, of which the forward wall 22, Figures 1, '7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, extends downwardly to the frame base 4, and the rear wall 23, Figure l, extends downwardly to a certain area containing cams and other associated mechanism in the lower part of the machine, as hereinafter fully described. A front supporting frame portion of the machine is indicated by 3, and other certain frame parts will be particularly hereinafter mentioned in connection with the particular mechanisms which they support.

The cycle of operations, broadly stated, is as follows:

With the reciprocable table in a retracted position from the milling area (its extreme righthand position, which is the opposite extreme from that shown in Figures 1 and 10, for instance), certain elements accessory to the table 5 are opened so that a piece |0 may be Apositioned therein. Then, the accessory elements are closed to lock the piece l0 in the table 5 and the latter then moved to the left, Figures 1 and 10, to bring the piece l0 into the milling area, by the action of acam 35 and connecting mechanisms, Figures 1, 10, and 11, and the work l0 fed thereby into the cutter 30 to eifect the eut I2. Then, the opposed pair of spindles |20 carrying the millers 20 are fed transversely inwardly toward each other, by a cam |05 and associated mechanism, Figures 1, 2, 6, and 9, to cause the millers 20 gradually to move into the work l0 to effect the diametrically opposed cuts During the cutting operations effected by the opposed millers 20, the cutter 30 rotates idly through the cut |2 which it has already effected, in the position shown in Figures 1 and 12.

A tension spring 80, Figures 1, 11, and 12, tends to retract the table 5 and does so retract it when the action of the cam 85, and its cooperating roller 90 so permit. A compression spring 88, Figures 1 and 1l, tends to spread the reciprocable spindles |20 and does so when its controlling cam |05 and cooperating roller ||0 so permit. As before stated, the positions of the elements shown in the accompanying drawings are those assumed immediately prior to the completion of the cutting operations, so that the cams 85 and |05 and their associated elements, and also the controlling springs, are shown in their relative positions at this stage of the operations.

When the cuts I| are completed, the springs 80 and 88 are permitted to contract and expand respectively, and the table 5 and the cutters 20 are retracted from the milling area, and a cycle resulting in the complete desired milling of one piece |0 has been completed.

Referring now somewhat in detail to the structureand assembly of the several elements effecting the aforementioned broadly stated operations, driving power is furnished by a motor Figures 1 and 6, to whose shaft is secured a pulley 2| over which runs a belt 22` which also engages a pulley 23 secured to a vertical shaft 24. This shaft 24 is a primary driving element which extends throughout the height of the machine and is rotatably mounted adjacent the top in the frame member 2, intermediate the top and bottom in a flange on a sub-frame l0, and at the bottom in a bearing box 13 mounted on the flange |22 secured to the front wall |2| of the sub-frame 19 in turn mounted on the machine base 4. The shaft 24 effects the rota tion of the cams 85 and |05, Figures 1, 10, and 1l, and also effects the rotation of the cutter 30, Figures 1 and 10, through the Several means hereinafter described in detail.

For effecting the driving of the cams 85 and |05, a spiral gear 6|, Figure l1, is secured to and adjacent the bottom 0f the shaft 24 and engages a gear 62 secured to a cross shaft 63, Figures l0 and 11, adjacent the end of which is secured a gear 64 meshing withfa gear 65 secured to a parallel cross shaft 66, both of which shafts 63 and 66 are mounted inthe sub-frame 19. Figures 1, l0, and 11, to which'shaft 60 the cams 85 and |05 are secured, Figures l and 11. The assembly is such as to effect the driving of the cams 85 and |05 in the directions indicated by the arrows in Figures 1 and 1l.

The driving of the milling cutter 30 by the shaft 24 is effected by a spiral gear 42 secured to and intermediate the height of the shaft 24, Figures 1, '7, and 10, and engaging a gear 43 secured to a cross shaft 44, rotatably mounted in a bracket 39 which is, in turn, mounted on the frame wall 22, to the end of which cross shaft 44 is secured a gear 45 meshing through an idler 46 with a, gear 41 secured to the end of the cutter spindle |30 also mounted in the bracket 39. The directions of rotation are such as shown by the arrows in Figure 10.l

Secured to the shaft 24 adjacent the pulley 23 is a sprocket 25, Figures 1 and 6, which is engaged by a chain 26 which also engages a pair of sprockets 21 secured to the reciprocable miller spindles |20, thus rotating the pair of milling tools 20 respectively depending from the spindles 12'0. The miller spindles |20 are respectively mounted in a pair of slides 60 recip-rocable toward and from each other in a manner and for a purpose hereinafter fully described.

In order to provide for the changing in effective length of the chain 26, necessitated by the approach to and receding from each other of the opposed cutter spindles |20 around which spindles |20 as a unit the chain 26 plays, Figure 6, a sprocket 28, Figures 6 and 8, reciprocable crosswise of the top of the machine, is engaged by the vchain 26 between the sprockets 25 and 2l and upon those sides of the latter tending to force the chain 26 into engagement with the sprockets 25 and 2l, as fully shown in Figure 6, the reciprocation of the .sprocket 28 being permitted by securing it to van upright pin 29 whose bottom end is seated in a plate 3| having a pair of `spaced elongated slots 33 through which the plate 3| is slidably secured to the top -of the machine by headed pins 32. The plate 3| is held to effect an engaging position of the sprocket 28 and the chain 26 by a depending weight 48, Figure 1, attached to one end of 'a cable 36 which plays over a pulley 38 and thence a second pulley 31, which pulleys are rotatably mounted on the frame member-2, and a frame block 10 mounted on the front face of the vertical frame wall 22, respectively, and thence over a pulley 34 secured by a pin 35 to the plate 3|', and thence is looped by its opposite end over a pin 49 upon which the pulley 31 is rotatably mounted.

Claims to the sprocket chain gearing just described are presented in my pending application Serial No. 586,591, led Apr. 4, 1945.

The feeding of the table 5 whereby the work I is fed into the cutter 30, is effected through a sub-table member 50 mounted on the front frame supporting member 3 and secured to the table 5, Figures 1, 2, 10, and 12, but adjustable relatively to the latter, for a purpose hereinafter fully described, the table member 50 having a rack portion 98 depending from its bottom face whose teeth 981 engage the teeth 911 of a gear segment 91. This gear segment 91 is actuated through the cam 85 and roller 90, hereinbefore mentioned, as follows: Referring to Figures 1, l0, 11, and 12, it will be noted that the roller 90 is rotatably mounted in the bottom ends of a pair of depending lever arms 9| which, at their upper ends, are made integral with a hub member 92 rotatably mounted upon a cross shaft 89 and having a forwardly and downwardly extending arm 95 formed therewith and mounted at its outer end on a pin |25 in an end clevis portion 931 of a rod 93 which passes through the frame wall 22 and at its other end by a clevis 932 is pivotally secured to a lever arm 94 secured to a cross shaft 96 mounted in the front frame supporting member 3,

to which cross shaft 96 a hub member 912 of thev gear segment 91 is secured.

Claims to the improvements in work-table feeds, in part just described, are presented in my pending application Serial No. 586,594, led April 4, 1945.

The actuation of the reciprocable miller spindles |20 by the action of the cam |05 is as follows:

Referring to Figures 1, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 1l, the cam roller IIO is rotatably mounted upon a pin |23 secured in one end of bifurcated lever arms ||51 secured at their other ends to the hub II52 of a forwardly longitudinally extended lever II5, said hub H52 being rotatably mounted on the shaft 89, the opposite end of the arm ||5 being pivotally secured by pin |24 to the bottom end clevis portion |081 of a vertical rod |06, The rod |06 is connected by a turnbuckle |I8 to an upper rod portion |062 having an upper end clevis portion |063 by which it is pivotally connected to one end of a rock arm |011 iixedly mounted intermediate its ends upon a shaft |01 rearwardly extended from the frame block and having a forward end gear portion |08 meshing with rack teeth |091 whose body portion |09 is secured by screws |26 to a slide 60 in which one of the miller spindles I 20 is mounted.

YThe other end of the rock arm |011 is pivotally secured to a clevis which in turn is secured by a right and left threaded rod II2 to a clevis II.I1 pivotally secured to a lever I'I3 iixedly mounted on av second shaft |I4 rearwardly extended from the frame block 10 and having an end gear portion I I6 meshing with the teeth ||11 of a rack plate I|1 secured to a` second slide 60 in which the opposite miller spindle |20 is mounted. The rack plates |09 and I I1 are disposed in elongated recesses 14 formed in the front face of the block 10, over which block 10 the supports 60 for the spindles |20 slide. The rack plate |09 is positioned at the bottom of one recess 14 and its rack portion I 091 engages the bottom of the gear |08; whereas, the rack plate |I1 is positioned at the top of the other recess 14 and its teeth engage the gear I|6 at the top, so that downward and upward movements, respectively, of the rod |06, Figure 1, cause the miller spindles |20 to approach each other and to recede from each other.

When the cam roller |I0 drops into the low portion of the cam |05 and thus terminates the downward pull by the forward end of the lever I|5 maintained on the rod |06 when the roller I I0 is riding on the high part of the cam |05, the compression spring 88, Figures 1 and l1, which surrounds an upright rod 86 and is confined between a spaced abutment 811 secured to said rod 86 and a bushing 81 mounted on the flange |22 of the sub-frame19, effects the upward movement of the arm I I5 since the upper end of the rod 86 is pivotally connected by an upper end clevis portion 861 to a pin 862 mounted in the arm I5, thus spreading the spindle slides 60. Furthermore, the

spreading of the slides 60, Figure 9, is aided by a plurality of compression springs |00, Figures 1, 6, and 9, abutting at their ends against elongated adjustable bolts |0I passed transversely into the side faces of the respective slides 60.

The table 5 is so constructed as to permit the clamping of a workpiece I0 therein preliminarily to the movement of the table toward the milling area and to eifect such clamping of the piece i0 the following structure is provided:

The table 5 is formed with a longitudinal recess 51 extending from its front edge to the front edge of a plate 62 at the transverse center line of the milling area which recess 51 accommodates a plate 6, the plates 9 and 62 having longitudinally opposed parts which are so shaped and can be so disposed as to provide an opening through which the shank I3 of the piece I0, Figures 3, 4, and 5, may be passed when the plate parts 6 and B2 are sufciently spaced, as hereinafter fully described.

i The opposed edges of these plate parts 6 and 62 are of arcuate formation so as to form, when in their closed position, a substantially complete plate circle adapted to engage the annular side recess I4 of the piece I0. The opposed edges of the plate'members 6 and 62 forming this circle are under-beveled or of lip construction 61 and 63, Figures 1, 10, and 12, whereby they are readily inserted under the top flange I1 of the piece I0. Intersecting the recess 51 of the table 5 in which the plate part 6 is seated is a lower recess 1 through which and the recess 51 passes an upstanding pin 5| rotatably seated in the underlying body portion of the table 5. This pin 5| is formed with an eccentric 40 positioned in and of a depth equal to the Acombined depth of the recesses 51 andl -and passes through an elongated opening 8 in the plate member 6 of the same width as the long axis of the eccentric 40 and whose front and rear walls 81 and 82 are engaged, respectively, by

means driven by the motor for rotating the spindles and cutter, a work-holder mounted inthe frame and reciprocable toward and from the milling area, means driven by the motor for moving the spindles and Work-holder toward the milling area, and means for retracting the spindles and the Work-holder. n

2. A milling machine having a frame providing a milling area, a motor, a pair of opposed end-mill spindles mounted in the frame on vertical axes of rotation disposed on opposed sides of the milling area and reciprocable toward and from each other, a milling cutter effective in the milling area and mounted in the frame on a transversely xed horizontal axis of rotation intermediate the innermost opposed positions of the spindles, means driven by the motor for rotating the spindles and cutter, a work-holder mounted in the frame and reciprocable toward and from the milling area, means driven by the motor for moving the spindles and Work-holder toward the milling area, means for rendering said last-mentioned means ineffective, and springs tending to move the spindles and work-holder away from the milling area.

3. A milling machine having a frame dening a, milling area, a motor, a main shaft and a spindle mounted in the frame, the spindle being transversely slidable in the frame into and out of the milling area, means including said main shaft for driving the spindle from the motor, a fixed auxiliary shaft mounted in the frame, means for driving said auxiliary shaft from said main shaft, the axes of said spindle and said auxiliary shaft extending in relatively right angular planes, a cutter rotatably secured to said auxiliary shaft in the milling area, means for moving said spindle into and from the milling area, a work-holder slidably mounted in the frame, and means for moving said work-holder into and from the milling area.

4. Spindle moving means in a machine tool comprising a, frame, a motor, a pair of spindle heads mounted in the frame and slidable therein toward and from each other, spindles mounted in the heads, a shaft mounted in the frame, a cam rotatably secured to the shaft, means for driving the shaft from the motor, a second shaft mounted in the frame, a lever pivotally mounted on said last-mentioned shaft and having a roller mounted in one end thereof adapted to engage said cam, a link pivotally connected at one end to the other end of the lever, a rocker arm pivotally secured to the opposite end of the link, two auxiliary shafts mounted in the frame, gear segments secured respectively on opposite sides of the auxiliary shafts, a second rocker arm, the two auxiliary shafts being respectively secured to said rocker arms, a link pivotally secured at its respective ends to said rocker arms, and rack segments respectively engaged by said gear segments and respectively secured to said spindle heads, whereby the spindle heads concurrently slide in opposite directions.

5. Spindle-moving means in a machine tool comprising a frame, a motor, a pair of spindle heads mounted in the frame and slidable therein toward and from each other, spindles mounted in the heads, two shafts mounted in the frame, gear segments secured, respectively, on opposite sides of the shafts, rocker arms respectively secured to said shafts, a link pivotally secured at its respective ends to said rocker arms, rack segments respectively engaged by said gear segments and respectively secured to said spindle heads, and means driven by the motor and connected to one of said arms to rock the same, whereby the spindle heads concurrently slide in opposite directions.-

6. Spindle moving means in a machine tool comprising a frame, a motor, a pair of spindle heads mounted in the frame and slidable therein toward and from each other, spindles mounted in the heads, two shafts mounted in the frame, gear segments secured, respectively, on opposite sides of the shafts, rocker arms respectively secured to said shafts, a link pivotally secured at its respective ends tosaid rocker arms, rack segments respectively engaged by said gear segments and respectively secured to said spindle heads, means driven by the motor and connected to one of said arms to rock the same periodically and to ease @if on the same between rocking movements, and means tending to move the spindle heads in directions respectively opposite to the directions of movement induced by said driven means.

ERIC T. NORD. 

